Aerospace Engineering

AE majors typically take Physics 1110 or PH 1111 as their first course. If you choose to begin with Physics you should take PH 1110 or PH 1111 as your first course. You must be starting with MA 1021 or higher to begin with Physics. If you are starting with MA 1020 you should start with CH 1010.  

PH 1110 and PH 1111 are two different versions of mechanics. PH 1111 is recommended for students beginning the calculus sequence in MA 1023 (Calc III) or higher, and who have had a high school physics course (not physical science but physics).  For students who have not taken high school physics, it is recommended that you select PH 1110. 

The traditional PH 1110 is taught in three one-hour lectures, two one-hour conferences, and two hours of labs per week. If you prefer more “seeing and doing,” and learning in groups with other students in class, you may want to opt into the “studio style” version of the course in which class time will include a brief summary lecture, hands-on activities, and group problem solving. Studio-style courses often require more work outside of class before a topic is covered to be ready for the activities in the classroom, whereas traditional-style courses often require more work outside of class after a topic is covered to review and practice on your own (or with other students). The total amount of work outside of class turns out to be about the same between the two styles. Studio-style physics consists of two two-hour active learning sessions, a one-hour session for review problems or exams, and the same two-hour session of labs per week. The section numbers for studio-style physics are AS01 or AS02. 

Certain sections of PH 1111 are also taught in a studio style, depending on the instructor and available classroom space. 

AE Majors are recommended to work through the Calculus series (MA 1021-1024) in their first year. To choose the calculus course that is right for you, please consider the following: 

1. Complete the Math Placement Exam. The Math Placement Exam will tell you which Calculus course you should start in based on your current knowledge. If you are recommended to start in MA 1020, this will be your math course for both terms. 
2. Consider if you have AP Credit: 
   Students who obtain a score of “4” or “5” on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022 and should begin with MA 1023/1033 in A term followed by MA 1024/1034 in B term. 
   Students who obtain a grade of “4” or “5” on the BC-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021, MA 1022 and MA 1023 and could begin with MA 1024 in A-term then MA 2051 in B-term, OR MA 1033 in A-term followed by MA 1034 in B-term.  
3. Students who received a 6 or 7 on the IB will receive 2/3 credit of MA 1000, and should use the math placement exam results to decide which math class to take. 
4. Consider the possibility of retroactive credit. If the Math Placement Exam recommends that you start in MA 1022, MA 1023/1033, or MA 1024 but you do not have AP credit, this could be a great option for you. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1022 and MA 1023/1033 on your first attempt, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1023/1033 and MA 1024/1034 on your first attempt you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022.  If, in your first year, you complete MA 1024 and MA 2051, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022. Please note that there is no retroactive credit for MA 1023. In determining if this is the right path for you, we strongly recommend completing the Math Placement exam and following the suggestion given to you.  

The sequence MA 1033 Theoretical Calculus III and MA 1034 Theoretical Calculus IV is an alternative to the MA 1023, MA 1024 sequence in A and B terms. The sequence is designed to give a deeper and more mathematically rigorous presentation of the relevant calculus topics. If you really enjoy math and have credit for Calculus I and II already, you should consider this sequence instead of the MA 1023-MA 1024 sequence. 

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts or Social Science Course. More information is available about these courses below.  

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are: 

• Art (AR) 
• Music (MU) 
• Drama/Theatre (EN/TH) 
• Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN) 
   
• For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
• For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu) 
• For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu) 
• For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu) 
• For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) 
• Literature (EN) 
• Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH) 
• International Student English (ISE) 
• History (HI) 
• International Studies (INTL) 
• Philosophy (PY) 
• Religion (RE) 

You should pick courses in subjects you are interested in. When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it.  

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are: 

• Development (DEV) 
• Economics (ECON) 
• Environmental Studies (ENV) 
• Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV) 
• Psychology (PSY) 
• System Dynamics (SD) 
• Sociology (SOC) 
• Social Science (SS) 
• Society/Technology Studies (STS) 

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year.  

AE majors typically take Physics 1120 or PH 1121 in B term. You must be starting with MA 1021 or higher to begin with Physics. If you have AP credit for PH 1121/1120 you can consider taking an additional MA course such as Linear Algebra. 

PH 1120 and PH 1121 are two different versions of Electricity and Magnetism. PH 1121 is recommended for students beginning the calculus sequence in MA 1023 (Calc III) or higher and who have had a high school physics course (not physical science but physics).  For students who do not have high school physics, it is recommended that you select PH 1120. 

The traditional PH 1120 is taught in three one-hour lectures, two one-hour conferences, and two hours of computerized labs per week. If you prefer more “seeing and doing,”  you,” you may want to opt into the “studio style” version of the course in which class time will include a brief summary lecture, hands-on activities, and group problems. It will require more work outside of class to be ready for the activities in the classroom.  This version consists of two two-hour active learning sessions, a one-hour session for review problems or exams, and a two-hour session of computerized labs per week. The section numbers for this option are BS01 or BS02. Please keep in mind that you must select a matching Lecture, Discussion and Lab for PH1120 in Workday to register for the course.  

AE Majors are recommended to work through the Calculus series (MA 1021-1024) in their first year. In B Term you should take the next course in the Calculus series beyond your A term course. The following is the typical MA sequence for WPI Students. 

MA 1021 

MA 1022 

MA 1023/1033 

MA 1024/1034 

MA 2051 

To choose the calculus course that is right for you, please consider the following: 

1. Complete the Math Placement Exam. The Math Placement Exam will tell you which Calculus course you should start in based on your current knowledge. If you are recommended to start in MA 1020, this will be your math course for both terms. 
2. Consider if you have AP Credit: 
   Students who obtain a score of “4” or “5” on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022 and should begin with MA 1023/1033 in A term followed by MA 1024/1034 in B term. 
   Students who obtain a grade of “4” or “5” on the BC-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021, MA 1022 and MA 1023 and could begin with MA 1024 in A-term then MA 2051 in B-term, OR MA 1033 in A-term followed by MA 1034 in B-term. 
3. Students who received a 6 or 7 on the IB will receive 2/3 credit of MA 1000, and should use the math placement exam results to decide which math class to take. 
4. Consider the possibility of retroactive credit. If the Math Placement Exam recommends that you start in MA 1022, MA 1023/1033, or MA 1024 but you do not have AP credit, this could be a great option for you. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1022 and MA 1023/1033 on your first attempt, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1023/1033 and MA 1024/1034 on your first attempt you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022.  If, in your first year, you complete MA 1024 and MA 2051, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022. Please note that there is no retroactive credit for MA 1023. In determining if this is the right path for you, we strongly recommend completing the Math Placement exam and following the suggestion given to you.  

The sequence MA 1033 Theoretical Calculus III and MA 1034 Theoretical Calculus IV is an alternative to the MA 1023, MA 1024 sequence in A and B terms. The sequence is designed to give a deeper and more mathematically rigorous presentation of the relevant calculus topics. If you really enjoy math and have credit for Calculus I and II already, you should consider this sequence instead of the MA 1023-MA 1024 sequence. 

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts or Social Science Course. More information is available about these courses below.  

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are: 

• Art (AR) 
• Music (MU) 
• Drama/Theatre (EN/TH) 
• Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN) 
   
• For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
• For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu) 
• For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu) 
• For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu) 
• For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) 
• Literature (EN) 
• Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH) 
• International Student English (ISE) 
• History (HI) 
• International Studies (INTL) 
• Philosophy (PY) 
• Religion (RE) 

You should pick courses in subjects you are interested in. When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it.  

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are: 

• Development (DEV) 
• Economics (ECON) 
• Environmental Studies (ENV) 
• Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV) 
• Psychology (PSY) 
• System Dynamics (SD) 
• Sociology (SOC) 
• Social Science (SS) 
• Society/Technology Studies (STS) 

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year.  

AE majors typically take CH 1010 in C term. If you took CH 1010 in A term, please take PH 1110/1111. 

AE Majors are recommended to work through the Calculus series (MA 1021-1024) in their first year. Please take the next course in the sequence.  

MA 1021 

MA 1022 

MA 1023 

MA 1024 

MA 2051 

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts or Social Science Course. More information is available about these courses below.  

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are: 

• Art (AR) 
• Music (MU) 
• Drama/Theatre (EN/TH) 
• Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN) 
   
• For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
• For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu) 
• For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu) 
• For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu) 
• For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) 
• Literature (EN) 
• Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH) 
• International Student English (ISE) 
• History (HI) 
• International Studies (INTL) 
• Philosophy (PY) 
• Religion (RE) 

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are: 

• Development (DEV) 
• Economics (ECON) 
• Environmental Studies (ENV) 
• Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV) 
• Psychology (PSY) 
• System Dynamics (SD) 
• Sociology (SOC) 
• Social Science (SS) 
• Society/Technology Studies (STS) 

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year.  

AE majors are required to take ES 2001, Introduction to Material Science. This course has a recommended background of CH 1010, so please make sure you have completed that course prior to taking ES 2001.  

AE Majors are recommended to work through the Calculus series (MA 1021-1024) in their first year. The following is the typical MA sequence for WPI Students. 

MA 1021 

MA 1022 

MA 1023/1033 

MA 1024/1034 

MA 2051 

Your third course should be PH 2550: Atmospheric and Space Environments. This course has a recommended background of PH 1110 and PH 1120, so students who have completed this sequence will have the material needed to take PH 2550. 

Students who are still talking PH 1110/ or PH 1120 should consider a Humanities and Arts or Social Science Course. More information is available about these courses below.  

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are: 

• Art (AR) 
• Music (MU) 
• Drama/Theatre (EN/TH) 
• Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN) 
   
• For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
• For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu) 
• For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu) 
• For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu) 
• For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) 
• Literature (EN) 
• Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH) 
• International Student English (ISE) 
• History (HI) 
• International Studies (INTL) 
• Philosophy (PY) 
• Religion (RE) 

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are: 

• Development (DEV) 
• Economics (ECON) 
• Environmental Studies (ENV) 
• Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV) 
• Psychology (PSY) 
• System Dynamics (SD) 
• Sociology (SOC) 
• Social Science (SS) 
• Society/Technology Studies (STS) 

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year.  

Please note: Students are advised to take PH 2550 in D Term as a first choice should they meet the necessary recommended background (PH 1110/ PH 1120). Should students have not completed both courses, they should look to take PH 2550 in their following D Term when it is offered again.